Fishing reel



Dec. 18, 1951 W W|| MAN 2,579,353

FISHING REEL Filed April 18, 1946 Patented Dec. 18, 1951 FISHING REEL Walter Willman, St. Petersburg, Fla., vassignor to James Heddons Sons, Dowagiac,l Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 18, 1946, Serial No.663,049

Claims. (Cl. 242-841) This invention is concerned with a reel having provision for facilitating an adjustment of certain parts coaxial with the operating handle wherebyto compensate for wear at that point. In this Way I eliminate play and noise Whenever it developes. Furthermore the present reel embodies a'novel support for the bearing plate whereon Vis mounted the stud about which the operating handle is rotated. This support is adequate to maintain the stud in normal relation to the bearing plate even though it be subjected to severe lateral stresses during usage of the reel over a prolonged period of service. In addition, my present reel embodies a novel construction whereby the take-up and supporting parts are made accessible, wherever occasion may arise to perform any work upon them or eect any assembly thereof.

YThese various objects and Aadvantages which are derivable from my invention will more fully be set forth in the succeeding description, wherein reference is made to a suggestive embodiment of my invention inthe manner following:

' Fig. l is a perspective view of the reel, looking toward the head end thereof;

Fig. 2 isa central longitudinal section therethrough, taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the reel, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in section, taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

` Fig. 5 is a view in perspective, partly broken away, showing the inner and outer head plates, together with the interconnecting means therefor; and

Fig. 6 is a detail in section, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

The principal voperating units of the present reel may be of any conventional type, either with or without a level winding feature. It will be understood, therefore, that the present invention is not directed to specic detailsr in the arrangement Yof the gearing, or such accessory features as a click, drag, or level winding device.

For purposes of illustration, I have chosen a relatively simple type of reel comprising the usual reel clip plate Ii] which is carried by a lower pillar II which in conjunction with a side pillar I2 (one ormore) and a top pillar I3 serves to connect the tail plate I4 with an inner head plate I5. 'I'he pillars at their head ends are inwardly shouldered to provide reduced necks I'i' which are fitted closely within holes formed through thehead plate I5, the ends of the necks terminating substantially flush with the outer face ofthe head plate.

Extending axially into each pillar neck from its outer end isa threaded socket wherein may en gage a threaded stem I8 which extends axially from the inner end of a spacer post I9 of" increased diameter, this post being shown as formed with a transversehole 23, through which may be entered a'small implement to apply a rotary force thereto. vWhen the post is turned to advance its stem within the pillar socket, the inner end of the post will be brought home againstthe outer -face of the head plate I5 whereby to be-l come fixed rigidlyv withY respect thereto. The outer end of each spacer post is shouldered inwardly to provide a reduced neck 2| which may be closely fitted within -a registering hole in ank outer head plate 22. The end of this neck termi-k nates substantially flush with the outer face of the outer head plate, and a threaded shank 23` is adapted to engage within a threaded Asocket formed in the outer end of the spacer post. 'I'his shank is part of a screw having a slotted head 24 which is adapted to bear against and engageY with the outer face of the outer head plate 22, whereby to hold this head firmly against the shoulders of the spacer posts of which three is the preferred number, one being tted to each pillar as an extension thereof.

The construction thus far described provides a reel framework having at one end two spaced heads, one fixed with respect to the other, the outer head being removable from the spacer` around the periphery of the inner head plate, so4

that a cap 26 having an inturned iiange 21 may beV tted around both plates, the vflange being adapted to seat'itselfY against the shoulder 25. Screw threads 28 are formed internally of the cap for engagement with the peripheral threads i thus afforded by the cap to the operating partsY of the inner head plate whereby to cause the cap, when rotated, to advance axially With pressure against the outer head plate where it normally remains during use of the reel. The protection between the two head plates is a feature that is more fully dealt with in my Patent No. 2,391,- 935 of January l, 1946.

The inner and outer head plates, in conjunction with the tail plate,V support bearings 3l) and 3| for the spindle of a spool 32. These bearings are of any conventional type, so need not be 'described in detail. The inner and'outer head plates afford mountings for a suitable train of gearing g which transmitsv rotation from a handle 33 to the spindle 34 of the spool in the usual manner. It will be understood that the details of the bearings and gear train may be varied or modified along con ventional lines, and that the features of the present invention are concerned rather with means presently to be described than to the details of construction and arrangement; of the operatingparts themselves.

The handle is provided intermediately of its ends with an opening which is non-round, such/f a square, to receive a similarly7 shaped peripheral portion 35 which is formed near the outer end of a hub 36 which is extendediaxially from a pinion 31 at its inner end. Thezhubfpinionunit is mounted for rotation upon a xed stud 38 Whose inner end is inwardly shouldered .to provide a reduced neck 39 which is extended through an opening near one edge of a bearing; plate 402; the end of the neck being upset or otherwise formed to engage :with .the innerfface of .the,bearingg plate whereby to.secure-.thestudxedly and immovablythereto Vand in normal ...relation therewith.; At itsouter andthe hub 36..-isexternally. threadedatY 4I for engagement by;v acap'nutAZ whereby the handle may belocked operativelyin place.. The bearing. plate, here shown as. cir.- cular, is4 peripherally, shouldered at. A-large OpeningWhch is .provided `in the inner headplatev l5,v ,eccentrically thereof, is adapted toreceive 'the` bearing. plate.- whose shonlderf may rest. against theouter face` thereof .to provide a. closure there-l for. Tosecure the,bearingplatexedlyin place, Lemploythree screwswhoseheads dllengage with the outer faceof. theY outer.y headplate 22,v the threaded. Shanks. 45.. of these screws. passing.A through openings. 46.' in the .head Vplate to .engage with the.v bearing.` plate.. which is: maintained.. a fixed.F distance.. apart from the outer. head.plate by, spacer. sleeves Hl whichsurround.k the screwV Shanks.` In .the present .construction .the bearing. platealthough tting.. over. the inner head .plate opening.. is carriedlby, theouter head plate.. 22.

through .the mediumof thethree-point .support jist described...

Surrounding the. hub.. 36.. in spaced.. relation. thereto is a bushing. 505. which is externally. threaded for. cooperativeengagement with a .nut 5l and` a ,lockl Washer. 52'. adjacent thereto. This. nut which isfxedly. seated. withinv anopening through the outer, headfplate. 22, ,istprovided .with a shoulder 'which abuts-the. outer facefthis h`ead`plate and atl itsinner. end with a. head. .54'

in flush engagement withthe vinner face ofther sameplate. Thebushing may be.,.provided at. its.

outer., end .with .an out-turned. ange 55V againstv which the handle` may. bear. lightlyin .response :to tightening. of the capfnut. 42.. Inthe .assembly just described, the 'bushing-.I is .extended `inwardly. to. .contact the transverse '.wallofa` collar; 56 to .the outer .side thereof. The bushing maybe .'rotativelyadjusted to present its .inner end closelyfadjacent, the` collar 55 'so ras --to provide :an .endthrust bears ingtherefor. Closelysurroundinggthiscollarand secured Tasa thereto. is a'-ring; gear S'Lformingfa component-of .thetrain'of gears-,whereby the-spool.-

is-.operated from thehandle Inuse of a reel,f,thefhandledriven gearinclud.-r

ordinarily impossible to rectify; suchia condition` shortofreplacing one or .more of. the. worn parts; In the; present-reel mechanism, I aamabletocome pensate for wear.' byfthe-f simple; expedientzsof; loosening; the lockinut 52;rthen1.rotativelyfadeinner and outer head' plates.

vancing the bushing through the slight distance necessary for the purpose. The hub and its collar may be produced from whatever material is best suited for free running on its axial and end bearings, Whereasthe gear 51 which is carried thereby may, if desired, be formed from a different material, although, optionally-it 11n-ay be; formed integral. therewith. Thefpresencetof .tlie:bushing acts also as a protecting cover for the gears to the inside thereof. By taking advantage of the provision for Wear compensation above referred to; the reel can be maintained in a noiseless freerunningconditionthrough a prolonged period of heavy service.

The =-bearinglplatei 40, as already noted, may be ttedclosely. against the inner head plate l5 in such a position as to constitute a complete closure fonthe large opening which it covers. This plate is c-arried by the outenhead plate 22 which, by meanseof.- the cap 26;: is.maintainedztightly ina position Whichsaaccuratelyxspaced b thefposts.' lfrom theiinne-r head plate l5.' As shown, the; support extending `yfrom 'the :outer 'headplate-Z toN thefbearingsplate; 4% istat threefspaced pointssdeeflning ia :ligure which isy tri-angular'. This fisJbotli" importantzand advantageousbecausezsuch afsup@ port isl sufcientlyfsteady andi balanced torradesquately withstand-.the .lateral stressesithataresset= up.y as the.. result ofithe.offecenterflocation' off the stud 38"' about whose :axis thehandle.isrrequired to rotate.' In use, thereforegrthe.- multi-point supeport" for; the bearing i plate :will afforda .b'ase'fforE theY stud'suchthat the` onewill be maintained' always in .normal relation Atothe other: Asa-com sequence; there willlb'e less noise .from-,1 and wear of, the gears-over a prolonged'periodiof service? The extension posts serve also' as spacers whereby thel distance fremains fixed' between'L the It'ispossible by; use of an appropriateimplement to advancefeacl postso* tightly in' its threaded engagement' with the associated i pillar asr` to prevent normally L any separation" therebetween. This isf of i advantage because if the outer head'fplate isto'beremoved? loosening of the holding lscrews23"willnot affect the extension IpostsA which remain locked` to their pillars? I cla-im:

l lnfauishingreel, theI combination of Yatail plate at one end and at the other. end'inner and outer. headplates defining a chamber. thereb`e. tween, a pluralityof sectionalmeans -spacedfr'om each other andeach extending in a straight line from end toend andconsisting; ofa pillar and a post detachably and adjustably connectediwith an .end .of .thepillarand connecting the :tail plate withrthe. inner head., plate and theinnen head plate iwith :the .outerf head' plate, the inner: head.` platefbeing clamped'between the pillar andthef post and the postnprovidingV theconnectionibez tween-the inner headplate and ther-cuterhead. plate; there beingfin the inner headfplate a'aoirctL-fflar; opening, a: bearing:Y plate having a peripheral shoulder.- overlapping the marginal edgeofthe. circular opening of the. inner head plate. toprovide a closurel therefor; means interconnecting?. the bearingplate'andouter head'plateatapluraliityvof spaced pointsin normally inseparable''rela`I tion whereby the-hearing plateis supported by the outer=head plate and removabletherewithiasia' unitffrom the irmerfhea'dplatewhen the inner head'plate is'.` disengaged from the taiYpIate;g a spoot mounted` for.A rotation between the tail plate and the bearing plate; astudfmountdiorr;

the bearing plate and extended outwardly therefrom opposite an opening in the outer head plate through which the stud projects, a gear mechanism within the chamber including a gear rotatably mounted upon the stud and having driving connection with the spool; a bearing through which the gear carried by the stud is journaled for rotation, said bearing being carried by the outer head plate and longitudinally adjustable and having abutting engagement with the gear upon the stud, and an operating handle in connection with the gear mechanism mounted for rotation coaxially with the stud.

2. In a fishing reel, the combination of a tail plate at one end and at the other end an outer head plate, spaced means interconnecting the tail and outer head plates at points adjacent their peripheries, an inner head plate fixedly supported by the interconnecting means at a point relatively close to the outer head plate and defining a chamber therebetween, there being in the inner head plate an opening inwardly of the interconnecting supporting means, a bearing plate adapted to fit over the opening of the head plate to provide a closure therefor, a three-point normally inseparable connection between the bearing plate and the outer head plate whereby the former is supported by the latter in unitary relation therewith, Ia spool mounted for rotation between the tail plate and the bearing plate, a stud mounted on the bearing plate and extended normally therefrom opposite an opening in the outer head plate through which the stud projects, and operating means for the spool comprising a handle mounted for rotation coaxially with the stud.`

3. In a fishing reel, the combination of a tail plate at one end and at the other end inner and outer head plates defining a chamber therebetween, a plurality of pillars interconnecting the tail plate and inner head plate, a plurality of posts, one coaxial with each pillar, extending between the inner and outer head plates in engagement with their confronting faces to serve as spacers therebetween, means removably connecting each post with one pillar and with the outer head plate, a bearing plate supported by the outer head plate providing a mounting for a train of gear mechanism within the chamber, a stud associated with the gear train supported at one end by the bearing plate and extended outwardly therefrom normally thereof through an opening in the outer head plate, and a handle mounted for rotation coaxially with the stud.

4. In a fishing reel, the combination of a tail plate at one end and at the other end inner and outer head plates defining a chamber therebetween, a plurality of parallel spaced means, each comprising a pair of axially aligned separably joined sections, interconnecting the tail plate with the inner head plate and the inner head plate with the outer head plate, a bearing plate carried by the outer head plate in unitary relation therewith providing a mounting for a train of gear mechanism within the chamber, a stud associated with the gear train supported at one end by the bearing plate :and extended outwardly therefrom normally thereof through an opening in the outer head plate, and a handle mounted for rotation coaxially with the stud.

5. In a fishing reel the combination of a frame comprising a tail plate at one end and at the other end a removable head plate, posts removably associated with the reel frame and detachably connected with the head plate to provide a seat therefor in a predetermined spaced rela-- tion to the reel frame, a bearing plate, other posts spaced radially inwardly from the first posts and detachably engaged with the head plate and the bearing plate and holding the bearing plate in predetermined spaced relation to the head plate and permitting removal of the bearing plate with the head plate after separation of the head plate from the reel frame, a spool mounted for rotation between the tail plate vand the bearing plate, operating means for driving the spool comprising a stud mounted on the bearing plate and extended outwardly therefrom opposite an opening in the head plate and through which the stud projects, a hub mounted for rotation on the stud having a wall formed with a portion transversely extended therefrom at a point remote from its outer end, a nut xedly carried by the head plate, a bushing threaded through the nut and adjustably supported thereby in surrounding relation with the hub and having a portion projecting outwardly from the nut, the inner end of the bushing contacting the transversely extending portion of the transverse wall of the hub to provide an end thrust bearing therefor, means for locking the bushing in a selected position of longitudinal adjustment relative to the nut, and a cap in screw-threaded connection with the reel frame and in overlapping engagement with marginal portions of the head plate for securing the latter in place and serving also as a marginal closure for space between the bearing plate and the head plate.

WALTER WILLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 252,554 Vom Hofe Jan. 17, 1882 820,609 Shakespeare, Jr. May 15, 1906 1,009,818 Wollensak Nov. 28, 1911 1,321,284 Carter Nov. 11, 1919 1,399,536 Adams Dec. 6, 1921 1,542,403 Miles June 16, 1925 2,201,476 Catucci May 21, 1940 2,355,445 Khoenle Aug. 8, 1944 2,391,935 Willman Jan. 1, 1946 2,409,154 Schafer Oct. 8, 1946 

